Gamecock Women’s Basketball: Top 10 Players of the 21st Century
To celebrate 25 seasons of South Carolina women’s basketball in the 2000s, we’ve been counting down the greatest players of the modern era. Last week, we highlighted players ranked 25 through 11. Now, it’s time to unveil the Top 10 Gamecocks of the past quarter-century.
A few rules: only accomplishments at South Carolina count—no WNBA or other schools. Any career that began before the 2000-01 season only includes years played after that point. Longevity matters, meaning several strong seasons might outrank one spectacular year. And while this is a list of individuals, the ultimate goal of basketball is to win games, which weighed heavily into the rankings.
10. Shaunzinski Gortman (1998–2002)
58 games | 13.3 PPG | 5.6 RPG | 3.0 APG | 2.0 SPG
Though her career bridged two centuries, only Gortman’s junior and senior seasons are eligible here—and they were outstanding. A versatile guard, she was instrumental in guiding South Carolina to the Elite Eight in 2002, which at the time marked the best season in program history.
9. Allisha Gray (2016–17)
37 games | 13.2 PPG | 5.0 RPG | 2.5 APG | 1.3 SPG
Gray was a crucial piece of the 2017 national championship team. Undersized for her role as a forward, she proved vital to the Gamecocks’ small-ball lineup. Her postseason was unforgettable: 18 points and 8 rebounds vs. Stanford, followed by 18 points and 10 rebounds in the title game against Mississippi State. Her ability to step up when it mattered most secured her place in history.
8. Jocelyn Penn (1998–2003)
62 games | 20.0 PPG | 7.4 RPG | 3.3 SPG | 1.8 APG
Like Gortman, only Penn’s junior and senior years count—but what a run. She led South Carolina in scoring both seasons, powering the team to an Elite Eight and a second-round NCAA appearance. Averaging 23.9 points as a senior—the second-highest in program history—Penn also set the single-game scoring record with 53 points. Her success was even more remarkable given she redshirted in 2000–01 to give birth to her daughter, Tionna.
7. Tyasha Harris (2016–2020)
139 games | 9.6 PPG | 3.1 RPG | 5.1 APG | 1.6 SPG
Harris earned the starting point guard job as a freshman and promptly won a national title. As a sophomore, she set the single-season assist record (220). Her senior year cemented her as South Carolina’s all-time leader in assists (702) while also earning All-American honors and SEC Female Athlete of the Year. She still holds the program’s career record for assist-to-turnover ratio (2.55).
6. Alaina Coates (2013–2017)
133 games | 12.1 PPG | 9.2 RPG | 1.6 BPG | 62% FG
Coates’ career was cut short by a foot injury before the 2017 championship run, but her dominance was undeniable. A force inside, she finished as the program’s career leader in FG percentage, ranked third in rebounds, and tied for third in blocks. Coates was a consistent double-double machine who patrolled the paint with authority.
5. Kamilla Cardoso (2021–2024)
101 games | 9.9 PPG | 7.8 RPG | 1.96 BPG | 1.3 APG
Though she only spent three years in Columbia—two as Aliyah Boston’s backup—Cardoso’s rise was spectacular. Her ability to run the floor, protect the rim, and deliver clutch performances made her the best player on South Carolina’s undefeated 2024 national title team.
4. Tiffany Mitchell (2012–2016)
139 games | 13.6 PPG | 4.1 RPG | 2.6 APG | 1.7 SPG | 39.9% 3P
Dawn Staley called Mitchell her “firstborn”—the first true star to put South Carolina on the national stage. She won SEC Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015, nearly capturing a third in 2016 if not for A’ja Wilson. Mitchell was the program’s cornerstone during its rise to power.
3. Aleighsa Welch (2011–2015)
137 games | 10.6 PPG | 7.0 RPG | 1.4 APG | 0.9 BPG
Known as “Muffin,” Welch embodied toughness and leadership. She anchored South Carolina’s first SEC championship, first tournament crown, and first Final Four appearance. A relentless rebounder and enforcer, Welch bridged the early years of Staley’s tenure with the program’s eventual dominance. She was a two-time All-SEC First Team pick, SEC Tournament MVP, and ranks second in offensive rebounds all-time.
1. A’ja Wilson (2014–2018) & Aliyah Boston (2019–2023)
Wilson: 138 games | 17.3 PPG | 8.7 RPG | 2.6 BPG
Boston: 138 games | 14.1 PPG | 10.8 RPG | 2.4 BPG
How do you separate two legends who defined an era of dominance?
- A’ja Wilson turned South Carolina into a national power, winning the program’s first national championship (2017). She left as the all-time leading scorer and shot-blocker and now has a statue outside Colonial Life Arena.
- Aliyah Boston elevated the program even further, making South Carolina the nation’s most dominant force. She became the all-time leading rebounder, leader in double-doubles and triple-doubles, and guided the Gamecocks to the 2022 national championship.
Wilson was the fiery, vocal leader. Boston was the calm perfectionist who led by example. Both won National Player of the Year honors and multiple SEC Player of the Year awards. Together, they set a standard unlikely to be matched again.
